The world has been coming to China in an increasing rate since the days of Deng Xiaoping and the opening of the country’s doors in 1978. Since then, China’s rise to economic and political power has been nothing less than historic. China’s rise has corresponded with its ambitions globally. It will host the Olympics in 2008 in its nation’s capital for all to marvel in its glory. China is the second largest economy in the world in purchasing power terms, is the fifth largest exporter and is gaining grounds in M&A, international expansion and acquisition of international resources. The development of the Chinese MNC is a new feature of globalization, one that will undoubtedly change the world. In that respect there some emerging questions:

Why do Chinese firms internationalize, how do they do so, and what will be the impact of their internationalization on developed markets? The aim of this project is to answer, among others, those questions. Through contacts available from Rollins College China Centre and the Center for Business and Government from Harvard University, we will identify and interview China experts from government, industry and educational fields. Additionally, we will compile and analyze data on Chinese internationalization that will shed light on the phenomenon in question and will provide recommendations to policy makers, business executives and researchers. Particular attention will be given to the impacts of Chinese globalization on the American and German societies and economies. There is an ongoing shift of power from the West to the East and we are in the midst of it. What are the consequences of these power shifts? How will they affect developed, democratic societies and economies? What spillovers occur from Chinese investment?

Until now, there are only a few publications focusing on the expansion and activities of Chinese firms abroad. State-of-the-art theory fails to answer the questions, why Chinese firms internationalize, how they internationalize and what is the impact on developed countries, industries, companies, and society as a whole.

With the project “China is Going Global” (CHIGG) Potsdam University, Rollins College, and Harvard University provide a collaborative research project to analyze the structure and the inherent problems of this topic, and to give answers to those questions to several stakeholders, such as corporate, governmental and non-governmental decision makers as well as for researchers.